Passed down through various societies for multiple generations, the poem Beowulf is a true literary masterpiece. While first spread by word of mouth, the work was later transcribed, translated, and transformed into numerous forms of literature and media. Due to this, we know that their is not one true Beowulf. As Professor Martin Foys once said, “each generation gets the version of Beowulf it deserves”. These various adaptations led to differing tales of the conquests of Beowulf, as is the case with the first of the three agons, Beowulf’s clash with Grendel.
The beginning of the story occurs in the land of the Danes, where Beowulf fights Grendel and his mother. The last part of the story takes place in the land of the Geats, where Beowulf had being ruling as king for nearly 50 years and face his last enemy, the Dragon. Characterization: Who are the main characters of the story?
The Danes were happy again, but as soon as they started to celebrate the worst happens. Their assumption had led to another murderous, creature to rise. Grendel and his mother are outsiders who show traits of being like Cain, an enraged individual who killed his brother. Showing their worst side and ruining peoples lives intrigue them both. Beowulf, the incredible, mighty, hero slays and banishes the unwanted
Beowulf’s Vengeance It is a fair night in Geatland, and Beowulf is celebrating his victory over Grendel's Mother in the mead hall Higlac built for his nephew. The mead hall is named The Court of Champions. "Let us celebrate my nephew’s great accomplishments of ridding the Danish people of their hideous creatures!" Higlac exclaims as he raises his mead cup to his subjects. Higlac by far was one of the fairest kings the Geats have had, after raids he gave each member a portion of the loot and made sure that everyone in the clan was cared for.
The fight with Grendel happens and when it is over Beowulf is celebrated for winning against the heinous demon. When he returns home, his is greeted by his people and is crowned king of the Geatland, ruling for fifty years before the fateful fight with the
Grendel breaks into the hall. Moreover Grendel eats one of the Geat soldiers. Then Beowulf stops Grendel from eating him. Lastly Beowulf defeats Grendel to protect the Danes.
Hrothgar was a king over his country, and a very powerful ruler. He built a hall, called Heorot, where his warriors gathered to drink, get gifts from their lord, and listen to the many different stories of the other people. The jubilant noise from the hall angered the horrible demon named Grendel who lived in the swamplands. Grendel terrorized the Danes people every night, killing them and defeating their efforts to fight back. The people suffered many years of fear, danger, and death at the hands of Grendel.
In the epic poem Beowulf, the protagonist, Beowulf, faces three “monsters” at different times in his life. The poem begins with Grendel, a monster who attacks only in the dark of night, tormenting the kingdom of Hrothgar. The last two sections of the epic detail the conquering by Beowulf of Grendel’s mother and the dragon. The battle between the monsters and Beowulf represent the theme of good versus evil in the poem, as well as the fusion of pagan and Christian ideals in the changing Germanic society. Grendel’s mother’s actions directly juxtapose the role of a woman in this time period, and the greediness of the dragon with his treasure contrasts with the virtues of what would be considered a good king.
He ached at the sound of “the din of a loud banquet every day in the hall” and the “telling of the man’s blessings” (Beowulf 88). Night by night he would snatch men from their beds and take them back to his lair, only leaving a trail of corpses behind. These men never meant any harm to a demon of his power, but prejudice raged flames from within his dark soul. The attacks rained on Heorot for 12 years to come before Beowulf got a hold of this blood thirsty nuisance. Grendel's character creates a sense of helplessness to the reader, also adding doubt to the fact that Beowulf could take on such a creature from below.
King Hrothgar builds a mead hall, called Herot, for his warriors. The noise from Herot bothers Grendel, who lives in the swamp near the castle. In turn, Grendel terrorizes the mead hall killing Hrothgar’s warriors. This goes on for years, until Beowulf hears about it and decides to help. Beowulf takes on Grendel, unarmed, and rips his arm off, fatally wounding it.
As the story progress, Beowulf became king of the Geats for 50 years when suddenly a dragon emerged from slumber began to burn down villages. However, Beowulf didn’t pay the slightest attention, but instead ignored what was happening. Finally, when the dragon burns down Beowulf’s throne room Beowulf decided that he needs to deal with the dragon. In Beowulf 's eyes, the lives of his citizens couldn’t even compare to his throne room. When Beowulf prepared to fight the dragon he said, “Now I am old, but as king of the people I shall pursue this fight for the glory of winning” (lines 2512-2514).
Beowulf, a skilled warrior and was believed to be the strongest of all the lands, heard about the distress in Heorot and decided to make the voyage to assist King Hrothgar. When Beowulf and his men arrived in Heorot, the natives were intimidated by the appearance of his ship and his men, which showed the first act of pride in Beowulf. Beowulf and his men had successfully proved to the people of Heorot that Beowulf believed that he could kill the monster and save the land of Heorot. Hrothgar assigned the duty of killing Grendel to Beowulf and his men, and told them to party, which attracts and angers Grendel, and wait for Beowulf. Grendel entered the mead hall while Beowulf laid patient and observant, waiting for the perfect time to attack, with his bare hands.
The story of Beowulf took place in Denmark and was one of the earliest pieces of literature. Beowulf, himself, was “a hero who fights monsters, saves his people and finds himself” (4:34). “Beowulf is the name of a young warrior from the land of the Geats in southern Sweden,” he traveled to Denmark when he heard of the horrible things Grendel was able to accomplish (94). Beowulf and his men wanted to kill Grendel for good, he states on this fact that “I have known much peril, grim death dangers. Grendel’s ravages came to my ears in my own homeland” (94).
Eventually, a third and last monster appeared. This time the monster was a furious dragon that would attack and burn down the villages of Geatland. Obviously, Beowulf was ready to take on the dragon in a fight, but unfortunately, after defeating it, his wounds were not to fix. Sadly, Beowulf had fought his last fight. Eventually, The Geat’s held a worthy funeral for Beowulf, and they even built an enormous barrow where he could rest in peace.
In the halls of Heorot, an evil presence terrorizes its people. An evil presence known as Grendel. Grendel is assumed to be a descendent of Cain, who is destined to be evil. Even though he is full of corruption, he is a lonely creature who seeks companionship by killing the people of Heorot. Every one in the castle is terrified of Grendel as well as the King’s warriors.
